“We’re 6-for-32 from three… it’s really hard to win an NBA game with those stats,” Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said after Cleveland’s 122-113 win over Utah. The numbers suggested a loss. The result didn’t.
The difference was not shot-making. It was an adjustment.
The problem was clear early
Cleveland shot 18.8 percent from three (6-for-32), while Utah went 15-for-29 (51.7 percent). That is a 27-point gap from beyond the arc, a margin that typically decides the game.
Instead, the Cavaliers changed how they played before the gap could define the outcome.
The adjustment was immediate and specific
“We decided tonight’s not our night from three,” Atkinson said. “We’re going to start getting to Evan.”
That shift showed up in both decision-making and shot selection. Cleveland moved away from early-clock threes and leaned into interior creation, using Donovan Mitchell and James Harden to initiate actions toward the paint.
Mobley became the offense
Evan Mobley finished with 34 points and 17 rebounds on 15-for-21 shooting, with nearly all of his scoring coming inside. The Cavaliers outscored the Jazz 82-40 in the paint, turning efficiency into volume.
“Evan’s the advantage tonight… let’s just keep feeding him,” Atkinson said, describing a decision that stayed consistent throughout the game.
James Harden’s 14 assists and Mitchell’s 5 assists reflected that shift, as both guards repeatedly created direct looks for Mobley rather than settling for perimeter attempts.
This is not how Cleveland usually plays
The adjustment stands out because it runs against Cleveland’s typical profile. The Cavaliers average 44 three-point attempts per game, with over 50 percent of their shots coming from beyond the arc.
This game required the opposite. Cleveland reduced its reliance on spacing and leaned into size, finishing with one of its most paint-heavy performances of the season.
Mobley’s surge is arriving at the right time
The performance fits a broader trend. Mobley is averaging 19.3 points and 9.4 rebounds since the All-Star break, with improved efficiency and a larger offensive role.
Atkinson made that point directly. “He’s got to be one of the best bigs in the league since the All-Star break,” he said.
On a night when Cleveland’s primary strength failed, that version of Mobley gave them another way to win. That may matter more than the result itself.
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